V 


H 


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The  Little  Black  Devil 


A SKETCH 


BY 

GORDAN  V.  MAY 

AUTHOR  OF  OUTWITTING  THE  COLONEL 


I 


CHICAGO 

T.  S.  DENISON,  PUBLISHER 
163  Randolph  Street 


THE  LITTLE  BLACK  DEVIL. 


CAST  OF  CHARACTERS. 


Prof.  Mossbanks 

Olivia His  Daughter 

Dick  Fellows Olivia's  Lover 

Time — The  present. 

Costumes — Modern  and  appropriate. 

Time  of  Playing — Ten  minutes. 

Properties — A small  bundle,  containing  a letter  and  the  image,  for 
Professor. 


STAGE  DIRECTIONS. 

R.j  means  right  of  the  stage;  C,  center;  R.  C.,  right  c^er; 
L.,  left ; I E.,  first  entrance ; U.  E.,  upper  entrance,  etc. ; D.  F., 
door  in  flat  or  back  of  the  stage ; i G.,  first  groove,  etc.  The  actor 
is  supposed  to  be  facing  the  audience. 


Author's  Note. — This  sketch  has  been  very  successful.  Its  theme 
is  entirely  new. 

Each  member  of  the  cast  should  change  their  facial  expression, 
voice  and  gesture,  the  moment  they  take  up  the  image ; which  should 
be  done  in  full  view  of  the  audience. 

On  laying  it  down,  a brief  pause  should  ensue;  as  if  they  were 
collecting  their  scattered  senses;  then  resume,  in  a modulated  tone. 
On  this  entire  change  of  behavior  rests  the  success  of  the  play. 

The  finale  should  be  well  worked  up ; each  talking  and  acting  in 
angry  manner,  and  all  together.  Keep  it  up  to  the  climax  of  throwing 
it  off. 


Copyright,  1901,  by  T.  S.  Denison. 


2 


THE  LITTLE  BLACK  DEVIL. 


Scene. — Professor  Mossbank's  study.  Doors  R.  and  in  Hat. 
Table  C.  Chairs  R.  and  L.  of  fable. 

Professor  enters  D.  F.  as  curtain  rises.  He  carries  a small  package, 
which  he  sets  on  table.  Enter  Olivia^  D.  R. 

Professor.  Good  morning,  my  daughter. 

Olivia.  Good  morning,  father.  I have  something  to  say  to  you. 
Professor.  Something  to  say  to  me?  Well,  my  dear  little  girl, 
what  is  it? 

- Olivia.  Last  night  Mr.  Fellows  called,  and  he  asked  me  to  be  hi ' 
i wife,  and— and,  I accepted  him,  and — and  he  will  be  here  this  morn- 
i ing  to  see  you ; there  ! 

; Professor.  And  so  that  is  what  you  wanted  to  say  to  me,  is  it? 
(jWell,  my  dear,  Dick  Fellows  is  a very  commendable  young  man,  and 
t-  if  you  love  him  — 

Olivia.  Oh,  indeed  I do,  father,  dearly. 

Professor.  Then  let  him  come,  and  he  and  you  shall  receive  my 
blessing. 

Olivia.  Oh,  you  dear,  dear  papa.  You  have  made  me  very  happy. 

: {Exits  D.  R.) 

I Professor.  Oh,  you  dear,  dear  papa.  Ha,  ha.  The  little  witch. 

|Make  her  happy.  Of  course  I will,  if  it  lays  in  my  power.  {Goes 

.to  table.)  I wonder  what  this  is?  {Opens  parcel^  and  takes  out 
{letter.)  Ah,  it’s  from  my  old  friend  Burchard.  {Reads.)  My 

'Dear  Mossbanks: — I send  you  herewith  one  of  the  many  curiosities 
which  I have  picked  up  in  the  course  of  my  travels.  It  is  a little 
black  image  of  the  devil.  There  is  nothing  peculiar  about  it  except 
the  legends  which  are  attached  to  it;  for  know,  that  the  Hindoos 
(believe  that  whosoever  has  it  in  his  possession,  or  about  his 

^oerson,  immediately  loses  all  good  instincts,  and  becomes  sullen, 
angry,  excitable,  in  short,  devilish.  You  may  take  the  legends  for 
what  they  are  worth.  Yours  truly,  John  Burchard.  {Begins  un- 
ioing  parcel.)  A little  black  devil,  eh?  With  the  power  to  change 
lin  inoffensive  person  into  a fiend.  Ha,  ha.  Why,  the  idea  is  absurd. 

wonder  that  Burchard  should  even  be  so  foolish  as  to  write  such 
.lonsense.  {Picks  up  image.)  For  nonsense  it  is.  Pure  and  unde- 
iled.  The  idea  of  a little,  rude,  stone  image — why  it’s  worse.  It’s 

3 


a OF  ILL  LIB. 


/ 


4 THE  LITTLE  BLACK  DEVIL. 

downright  folly.  That’s  what  it  is.  He’d  ought  to  be  kicked.  He’d 
ought  to  be  choked.  He’d  ought  to  be  hung,  drawn  and  quartered. 
He’d  ought  to  be — 

Enter  Dick  and  Olivia,  D.  R. 

Well,  what  do  you  two  want  here?  Don’t  you  know  that  this  is  my 
hour  for  study,  hey?  Don’t  you  know  that?  Don’t  you  know 

THAT? 

Dick.  Excuse  me.  Professor  Mossbanks,  but  I called  to  see  you 
on  a matter  of  great  importance;  in  fact,  not  to  take  too  much  of 
your  valuable  time,  I am  here  to  ask  for  your  daughter’s  hand  in 
marriage. 

Professor.  What?— W-h-a-t?  W-H-A-T!  You  villain,  you 
idiot,  you  compound  essence  of  concentrated  gall ! What  do  you  take 
me  for,  eh?  What  do  you  take  me  for?  Never,  never.  Do  you 
hear  me,  sir?  NEVER! 

Olivia.  Why,  father,  you  told  me  a few  minutes  ago  that  you 
were  quite  willing  that  I should  marry  him. 

Professor.  I told  you  that,  did  I?  I told  you  that?  Never! 
But  I will  tell  you  now,  that  I would  rather  see  you  dead,  than  the 
wife  of  that  man;  or  any  other  man.  Do  you  hear?  Or  any  other 
man.  (Olivia  sinks  into  chair  at  table.  Professor  stands  near 
table.)  Here,  you  young  loafer,  get  out  of  my  sight;  out  of  my 
house,  or  I’ll — (lays  image  on  table  and  starts  toward  Dick) — in- 
vite you  to  stay  to  lunch.  So  you  want  to  marry  my  daughter? 
Well,  Richard,  my  boy,  there  is  no  one  whom  I would  rather  trust 
her  future  with  than  you.  Come  on,  let  us  have  a glass  of  wine, 
and  we  will  talk  over  the  affair  with  my  dear  daughter.  (During 
Professor’s  last  lines  Olivia  picks  up  the  image.) 

Olivia.  Never!  You  need  not  bother  to  discuss  my  affairs  or  my 
future.  I am  quite  able  to  look  out  for  myself. 

Dick.  Olivia ! 

Professor.  My  daughter ! 

Olivia.  Olivia ! My  daughter ! Oh,  don’t  speak  to  me.  I am 
disgusted  with  the  whole  affair.  I’ll  leave  this  house  to-day.  Not 
another  moment  will  I stay  to  be  insulted  by  two  such  cowards. 

Dick.  (Going  toward  her.)  Olivia,  what  has  come  over  you? 

Olivia.  Don’t  you  dare  come  near  me,  or  I’ll  scratch  your  eyes 
out. 

Dick.  Stop,  Olivia.  Something  is  the  matter. 

Professor.  She  must  be  crazy. 

Olivia.  Crazy!  Crazy!  So  that  is  your  scheme  is  it?  To  call 


THE  LITTLE  BLACK  DEVIL. 


5 


me  crazy  and  have  me  sent  to  an  asylum.  Ah,  yes.  But  I have 
found  you  out.  Out  of  m>  way  or  Fll  brain  both  of  you.  {She  lays 
image  down  and  raises  a ehair,  then  lets  it  fall  slowly,  and  eomes 
R.  to  Professor.  Dick  runs  baek  of  table.) 

Professor.  She  has  surely  gone  mad. 

Olivia.  Oh,  you  dear  papa.  I am  so  glad  that  you  have  agreed 
to  our  marriage.  It  is  the  happiest  day  of  my  life. 

Professor.  {Aside.)  Ah,  she  is  rational  once  more.  What  a 
blessing.  {Aloud.)  Agree?  Of  course  I agree.  I would  do  any- 
thing to  make  my  little  daughter  happy.  Dick,  my  boy,  come  here. 
{During  Professor's  last  line  Dick  pieks  up  the  image.) 

Dick.  What  for? 

Professor.  What  for?  Why,  to  receive  my  blessing  and  con- 
gratulations. 

Dick.  Blessings  and  congratulations  fiddlesticks.  What  do  I 
want  of  your  infernal  old  blessings.  Ha,  ha.  You  are  an  old  fool, 
a numbskull,  a back  number,  a dried  up  old  fossil.  And  as  for  your 
daughter,  I 

Olivia.  Oh,  Dick. 

Dick.  Don’t  oh,  Dick  me,  do  you  hear?  I won’t  have  it,  I tell 
you!  I won’t  have  it!  You  are  a pair  of  sinners,  and  you  tried  to 
inveigle  me  into  a marriage ; but  it  won’t  go  ! No,  sir  ! I see  through 
the  game,  and  I’m  going!  Don’t  try  to  stop  me  or  I’ll — {Throws  the 
image  on  the  door.) 

Olivia.  What  was  that  ? 

Professor.  What?  Why,  it  is  my  little  black  devil. 

Dick^^*  [ black  devil? 

Professor.  Yes,  and  ah,  I see  it  all  now.  Dick,  Olivia,  for 
heaven’s  sake  don’t  touch  it.  Wait,  let  me  read  you  this  letter. 
{Gets  letter  from  table  and  eomes  C.)  This  morning  I received  a 
package  from  my  old  friend  Burchard,  who  is  traveling  in  India. 
It  contained  that  image  and  this  letter.  My  Dear  Mossbanks: — I 
send  you  herewith,  one  of  the  many  curiosities,  which  I have  pi:ked 
up  in  the  course  of  my  travels.  It  is  a little  black  image  of  the  devil. 
There  is  nothing  peculiar  about  it,  save  the  legends  which  are  at- 
tached to  it ; for  know,  that  the  Hindoos  believe  that  whosoever  has 
it  in  his  possession,  or  about  his  person,  immediately  loses  all 
good  instincts  and  becomes  sullen,  angry,  excitable ; in  short,  devilish. 
You  may  take  the  legends  for  what  they  are  worth.  Yours  truly, 
John  Burchard. 


6 


THE  LITTLE  BLACK  DEVIL. 


Olivia.  Well,  father,  you  had  it  when  we  came  in. 

Dick.  Yes,  Olivia,  and  then  you  took  it. 

Professor.  And  you,  Dick,  just  held  it  yourself. 

Olivia.  Truly,  the  thing  is  accursed.  What  shall  we  do  with  it? 

Dick.  We  must  get  rid  of  it  some  way. 

Professor.  I’ll  take  it  to  the  door,  and  throw  it  out. 

Dick.  Don’t  you  do  it.  I’ll  take  it. 

Olivia.  No,  no,  let  me  have  it.  {All  take  hold  of  the  image  at 
same  time.) 

Professor.  Get  away,  both  of  you. 

Dick.  I won’t.  I’m  going  to  take  it  out. 

Olivia.  You  shall  not.  {A  general  hubbub  ensues  as  they  slowly 

make  their  way  up  stage.  On  reaching  D.  F.  it  is  tossed  off  stage. 

Professor  then  comes  slowly  down  C.  with  Dick  and  Olivia  on 

either  side  of  him.  Tableaux.) 

Professor.  At  last ! 

Dick.  Yes,  thank  heavens ! 

Olivia.  I am  so  glad ! 

Professor.  Come  now,  my  children,  and  receive  my  blessing. 


CHRTAIN. 


TBIK  THE  SCStF-BOm 

RECITATIOH  SERIES. 


A bouquet  of  choice  thoughts  to  tickle  the  fancy. 


C01«TENTS  OF  No.  4. 

A Tribute  to  Grant,  (Eloquent). 

The  Joshua  of  Fine  (Description). 
The  Latest  Barbara  Frietchie,  (Comic). 
“Leadville  Jim.” 

Jerry,  (Pathetic.) 

The  Wee,  Wee  Bairnie,  (Pathetic). 

The  Mutilated  Currency  Question,  (Hum- 
orous.) 

Memory,  (Poem.) 

How  a Song  Saved  a Soul. 

A Deco^'atioi  Day  Address. 

Mr.  Hoffenstein’s  Bugle,  (Very  Funny.) 
What  the  Robin  Can  Tell. 

Mary’s  Night  Ride,  (Vivid  Description.) 
Mr.  HopwelPs  Theory  of  Suppressing  a 
Fire,  (Humorous.) 

A Model  Summer  Hotel,  (Humorous.) 

Pat  and  the  Oysters,  (Humorous.) 

Family  Government,  (Apt  Illustration.) 
The  Heroes  and  the  Flowers,  (Beautiful 
Description. ) 

Expecting  to  Get  Even. 

Driving  a Hen,  (Humorous.) 

A Retrospective. 

Where  are  Wicked  Folks  Buried? 
Romance  of  a Hat,  (Humorous.) 

Forever,  (Sentimental.) 

Courtship  Fair  and  Square, 

Every  Year,  (Didactic.) 

Temperance  Song  Recital, 

Strangely  Related. 

Kit,  or  Faithful  Unto  Death,  (Pathetic.) 
Sam’s  Letter,  (Very  Funny.) 

Kindness. 

A Tribute  to  Longfellow. 

Civil  War,  (Tragic.) 

Petah,  (Comic.) 

Drinking  a Tear. 

The  Married  Man  and  The  Bachelor. 

The  V-A— S-E. 


- Price  25  Cents. 

The  Battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  (Stirring 
Description.) 

Heroic  Medley, 

A Christmas  Carmen, 

The  Girl  in  Gray. 

An  Easter-Tide  Deliverance. 

Fading. 

Aurelia’s  Unfortunate  Young  Man,  (Hum 
orous.) 

Fritz  and  His  Betsy  Fall  Out,  (Humorous, 
Help  Me  Across,  Papa,  (Pathetic.) 

Mr,  Diffident’s  Speech. 

Scene  from  Leah  the  Forsaken,  (Dramatic.! 
A Railroad  Car  Scene. 

Death  of  Little  Hackett,  (Pathetic.) 
Farmer  Stebbins’  Appearance  on  Roller? 
An  Untimely  Call. 

He  Guessed  He’d  Fight,  (Comic.) 

Only  Five  Minutes  to  Live. 

Calling  the  Angels  In. 

Caliber  Fifty-four. 

Mother’s  Doughnuts, 

The  Prospects  of  The  Republic;  Oration 
Intensely  Utter,  (Humorous.) 

Napoleon  Bonaparte. 

Autumn  Thoughts,  (Humorous./ 

A Christmas  Song, 

The  Froward  Duster. 

The  Convict’s  Soliloquy  the  Night  before 
Execution. 

Aunt  Sylvia’s  First  Geography  Lesson 
(Humorous.) 

I Am  Dying,  Egypt,  Dying,  (fine  Poem.] 
Burdette’s  Adivce  to  a Young  Man. 
Drinking  a Farm. 

Bill  Mason’s  Ride. 

Queen  Vashti’s  Lament. : 

Lady  Macbeth — Sleep-Walking  Scen% 
Tragic. 

Women  and  Their  Wayn 


T.  S.  DENISON,  Publisher, 

163  Randolph  St.,  CHICAGO. 


« 


TtiAN  THE  SCRAP-BOOK 


RECITATION  SERIES. 


M.  M-  scz)I=>e:i=r. 


HUGGBTS  PF^OM  THE  MINES  OP  IMAGINAIHION. 


CONTENTS  OF  No.  6.  - PRICE  26  CENTS,  POST-PAID. 


A Nameless  Hero  (Heroic  Poem). 

Mark  Twain’s  Mining  Story. 

A Culprit  (Humorous  Poem). 

The  Friar’s  Christmas. 

For  the  Chief’s  Daughter  (Tragic  Poem). 
Burdock’s  Music  Box  (Very  Funny). 

Eulogy  on  O’Connell. 

Agnes,  I Love  Thee. 

Neighbors  (Specimen  of  Gossip). 

Jerusalem  by  Moonlight. 

Purpose. 

The  Chariot  Race  (Fine  Description). 

Birth  of  the  Rainbow  (Poem). 

Tom’s  Little  Star  (^Capital  Short  Poem). 
Unwritten  Poems. 

Emancipation  of  Man  (Burlesque). 
Christine. 

How  I Tended  the  Baby  (Comic). 

Battle  of  the  Cowpens  (Heroic  Poem). 
Nebuchadnezzar. 

Universal  Education. 

Temperance  Lesson — Just  Twenty-one. 
Pat’s  Reason  (Comic). 

Defence  of  Hofer  (Patriotic). 

Thet  Boy  of  O urn  (Dialect  Poem). 
Hannibal’s  Address. 

She  Referred  Him  to  Her  Pa. 

Patriotism. 

Winnie’s  Welcome  (Irish  Poem). 

Speech  of  Patrick  Henry  (Patriotic  ration). 
My  First  Pantaloons. 

Peaceable  Secession  (Oration). 

Pharisee  and  Sadducee. 

A Soldier  Tramp. 

Domestic  Economy  (Humorous). 

The  Flying  Dutchman. 


Une  Robe  Angelique. 

A Frontier  Bridal  — Almost  a Tragedy 
( Fine  Poem), 

The  Origin  of  Scandal. 

The  Unknown  Speaker  (Prize  Oration). 
Decoration  Day  Poem — “Memorial  Day.” 
Little  Charlie’s  Big  Story. 

The  Donkey’s  Dream  Humorous). 
Startling  Revelations  (Very  Funny). 
“There  is  a Spiritual  Body.” 

Praying  for  Papa. 

Minding  the  Hens  (Humorous^ 

Der  Shpider  und  Der  Fly. 

One  Thing  He  Forgot. 

Curly-Head. 

Jimmie’s  Prayer. 

He  Gave  Him  a Start. 

Shall  America  Betray  Herself  ? 

Kiss  Deferred,  The  (Fine  PatheaiR  Poem.) 
If  I Were  a Boy  Again. 

The  Rustle  of  a Wing. 

Light  over  the  Range  (Miner’s  DiaJ<*«t>' 
Grady’s  Great  Speech,  “The  New  So»»*i»«” 
The  Oak  and  the  Vine  (Humorous). 
Cassandra  Brown. 

Empty  Nest,  The. 

Aux  Italiens  (a  Poem). 

The  Blind  Preacher. 

Lorraine. 

The  Curtain  Fixture  (Humorous) 

The  Telegram. 

She  Would  be  a Mason  (Humorous). 

A Mysterious  Duel. 

The  Last  Hymn,  a Story  of  Shipwreck. 
Waiting  for  the  Bugle. 

The  Codfish. 


T.  S.  DENISON.  Publisher, 

163  ]^andolph  Street,  CHICAGO. 


DENISON’S  ACTING  PLAYS. 

Price  15  Cents  Each,  Postpaid,  Unless  Different  Price  Is  Given. 


FARCES  AND  SKETCHES. 

M. 

In  the  Wrong  House,  20  min. . . 4 
Irish  Linen  Peddler,  40  min. ..  3 

Is  the  Editor  in?  20  min 4 

John  Smith,  30  min 5 

Just  My  Luck,  20  min 4 

Kansas  Immigrants,  20  min. ..  5 

Kiss  in  the  Dark,  30  min 2 

Larkins’  Love  Letters,  50  min.  3 

Limerick  Boy,  30  min 5 

Love  and  Rain,  sketch,  20  m..  1 

Lucky  Sixpence,  30  min  4 

Lucy’s  Old  Man,  sketch,  15  m.  2 

Mike  Donovan,  15  min 1 

Misses  Beers,  25  min 3 

Mistake  in  Identity,  sketch,  15 

min  0 

Model  of  a Wife,  25  min 3 

Movement  Cure,  15  min 5 

Mrs.  Gamp’s  Tea,  sketch,  15  m.  0 
My  Jeremiah,  20  min. 3 


My  Neighbor’s  Wife,  45  min...  3 

My  Turn  Next,  50.  min 4 

Narrow  Escape,  sketch,  15  m..  0 

Not  at  Home,  15  min 2 

On  Guard,  25  min 4 

Persecuted  Dutchman,  35  min.  6 

Pets  of  Society,  30  min 0 

Played  and  Lost,  sketch,  15  m.  3 

Pull  Back,  20  min 0 

Quiet  Family,  45  min 4 

Realm  of  Time,  musical  al- 
legory, 30  min 8 15 

Regular  Fix,  50  min  6 4 

Rough  Diamond,  40  min 4 3 

Ro  w in  Kitchen  and  Politician’s 
Breakfast,  2 monologues. . . 1 

Silent  Wohfhn,  25  min 2 

Slasher  and  Crasher,  1 h.l5  m.  5 
Squeers’ School,  sketch,  18  m..  4 

Taming  a Tiger,  20  min 3 

That  Rascal  Pat,  35  min 3 

Too  Much  of  a Good  Thing,  50 

min 3 

Turn  Him  Out,  50  min 3 

Twenty  Minutes  Under  Um- 
brella, sketch,  20  min 1 

Two  Bonnycastles,45  min.  ...  3 

Two  Gay  Deceivers,  25  min ....  3 
Two  Gents  in  a Fix,  20  min.  . . 2 
Two  Ghosts  in  White,  25  min.  0 

Two  Puddifoots,  40  min 3 

Uncle  Dick’s  Mistake,  20  min  . 3 
Very  Pleasant  Evening,  30  m. . 
Wanted  a Correspondent,  1 hr. 
Which  Will  He  Marry?  30  m.. 

White  Caps  (The),  musical,  30 

min  

Who  Told  The  Lie?  30  min. . . 

Wide  Enough  for  Two,  50  min. 
Women  of  Lowenburg,  histori- 

cal  sketch,  5 scenes,  50  m..  10  10 
iJ.Woman  Hater  (The),  30  min..  2 1 


M.  p. 

Wonderful  Letter,  25  min 4 1 

Wooing  Under  Difficulties,  35 

min 4 3 

Yankee  Peddler,  1 hr 7 3 

ETHIOPIAN  FARCES. 

Academy  of  Stars,  15  min 5 1 

All  Expenses:  Or,  Nobody’s 

Son,  10  min 2 0 

Baby  Coach  Parade,  20  min. . 4 2 
Back  from  Californy ; Or,  Old 

Clothes,  12  min 3 0 

Deaf,  In  a Horn,  12  min 2 0 

Hamlet  the  Dainty,  15  min 6 1 

Handy  Andy  12  min 2 0 

Haunted  House,  8 min 2 0 

Joke  on  Squinim  (The).  25  m..  4 2 

Jumbo  Jum,  30  min 4 3 

Mischievous  Nigger  (The),  20 

min 4 2 

No  Cure,  No  Pay,  10  min 3 1 

Othello  and  Desdemona,  12  m.  2 0 
Prof.  Black’s  Funnygraph,  15 

min 6 0 

Quarrelsome  Servants,  8 min..  3 0 

Rooms  to  Let,  15  min 2 1 

Sham  Doctor  (The),  15  min. ..  4 2 

Sports  on  a Lark,  8 min 3 0 

Stage  Struck  Darky,  10  min...  2 1 
Stocks  Up, Stocks  Down,  8 m.,  2 0 

Tricks,  10  min 5 2 

Two  Pompeys  (The),  8 min. .. . 4 0 

Uncle  Jeff,  25  min 5 2 

Unhappy  Pair  (An),  10  min.  ..  3 0 
Villikens  and  His  Dinah  20  m.  4 1 
Wax  Works  at  Play,  30  min.  ..31 
William  Tell,  15  min 4 0 

NEW  PLAYS. 

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Charles  O'Malley’s  Aunt  (25c.)  5 3 

Cobbler  (The) 1 0 

Convention  of  Papas 7 0 

Dude  in  a Cyclone 4 2 

First-Class  Hotel 4 0 

Iron  Hand  (25c.) 5 4 

It’s  All  in  the  Pay  Streak  (25c.)  4 3 

Indiana  Man  (25c.) 6 4 

Madame  P’s  Beauty  Parlors...  0 6 

New  Woman 3 6 

Not  a Man  in  the  House 0 5 

Only  Cold  Tea 3 3 

Patsy  O’ Wang 4 3 

Rejected 5 3 

Topp’s  Twins  (25c.) 6 4 

Treasure  from  Egypt 4 1 

Wanted:  A Hero 1 1 

The  publisher  believes  that  be  can 
say  truthfully  that  Denison’s  list  of 
plays  is  on  the  whole  the  best  se- 
lected and  most  successful  in  the 
market.  New  Plays  will  be  added 
from  time  to  time. 


T.  S.  DENISON,  Publisher,  I63  Randolph  St.,  Chicago. 


CHOICE  PLAYS  AND  AMUSEMENT  BOOKS 


Plays  by  T.  S.  DENISON. 

That  the  plays  written  by  T.  S.  Deni- 
son are,  all  things  considered,  the  best 
for  amateurs,  is  attested  by  their  very 
large  and  increasing  sale. 

New  plays  in  this  type. 


COMEDIES. 

ACTS.  TIME.  M.  F. 

Odds  With  the  Enemy,  5,  2 hrs.  7 — 4 

Seth  Greenback,  - 4,  i h.  15  m.  7 — 3 

The  School  Ma’am,  - 4,  ih.  45  m.  6 — 5 

Only  Daughter,  - 3,  i h.  15  m.  5—2 

Louva,  the  Pauper,  - 5,  2 hrs.  9 — 4 

Under  the  Laurels,  - 5,  2 hrs.  5 — 4 

Danger  Signal,  - 2,  ih.4sm.  7— 4 

Our  Country,  Histori- 
cal Play,  - - - 3, 1 h.  10 — 5 

Topp’s  Twins,  - 4,  2 hrs.  • 6—4 

It’s  all  in  Pay  Streak,  3,  i h.  40  m.  4—3 
The  New  Woman,  - 3,  i h.  3—6 


DIALOGUES. 

Friday  Afternoon  Dialogues. 

Twenty-live  original  pieces,  - 25c. 

When  the  Lessons  are  Over. 

New  Dialogues,  New  Drills,  New 

Plays, 25c. 

Dialogues  from  Dickens. 

Thirteen  Selections,  - - - 25c. 

From  Tots  to  Teens. 

Just  out.  Dialogues  for  youths,  chil- 
dren, and  little  tots,  also  pieces  for 
special  occasions,  - - - 25c. 

SPEAKERS. 

Friday  Afternoon  Speaker. 

For  pupils  of  all  ages,  - - 25c. 

Choice  Pieces  for  Little  People,  25c. 
Patriotic  Speaker. 

Carefully  selected  from  best  authors, 
^ 25c. 

Dialect  Readings. 

Irish,  Dutch,  Negro,  Scotch,  etc.,  25c. 
Sunday  School  Pieces,  - 25c. 


FARCES. 


ACTS.  TIME.  M.  F. 

initiating  a Granger,  - 25  m.  8 — 

Wanted,  a Correspondent,  2,  45  m.  4—4 

A Family  Strike,  - - 20  m.  3— 3 

Two  Ghosts  in  White,  - 20  m.  — 8 

The  Assessor,  - - • 10  m.  3 — 2 

Borrowing  Trouble,  - 20  m.  3— 5 

Country  Justice,  - - 20  m.  8 — 

The  Pull-Back,  - - 20  m.  — 6 

Hans  von  Smash,  - - 2,  30  m.  4 3 

Irish  Linen  Peddler,  - 2,  40m.  3—3 

Kansas  Immigrants,  - 20  m.  5 — i 

Too  Much  of  Good  Thing,  45  m.  3 — 6 

Is  the  Editor  In?  - - 20  m.  4 — 2 

Pets  of  Society,  - - 20  m.  — 7 

Wide  Enough  for  Two,  - 45  m.  5 — 2 


Patsy  O’Wang,  - 
Rejected,  - - - - 

A First-Class  Hotel,  - 
Mad.  Princeton’s  Temple 
of  Beauty, 

Dude  in  Cyclone, 

The  Cobbler,  - - - 


35  m.  4—3 
40  m.  5—3 
20  m.  4 — 

20  m.  — 6 
20  m.  5—3 
10  m.  I — 


TEMPERANCE. 

The  Sparkling  Cup,  - 5,  2 hrs.  12 — 4 
Hard  Cider,  - - - lom.  4— 2 

Only  Cold  Tea,  - - 20  m.  3—3 


J9®“Topp’8  Twins  and  It’s  all  in 


Scrap-Book  Recitations. 

A choice  collection  of  pieces,  pathetic, 
humorous,  descriptive,  prose  and 
poetry.  Eleven  Nos.,  per  No.  25c, 

TABLEAUX  AND  SHADOWS. 
Shadow  Pictures,  Pantomimes, 

Charades,  and  how  to  prepare  them, 
25c. 

School  and  Parlor  Tableaux. 

P'or  school,  church  and  parlor,  25c. 
Wax  Figgers  of  firs.  Jarley. 

With  full  directions  for  preparing,  25c. 


OPERETTAS. 


Bonnybell,  - - - 

- 25c. 

Elma,  the  Fairy  Child, 

- • 25c. 

Eulalia,  - - - - 

• 25c. 

Enchanted  Wood, 

- - 35c. 

Pocahontas,  - - - 

• 15c. 

SPECIALTIES. 


Private  Theatricals. 

How  to  select  plays,  form,  cast,  re- 
hearsals, rain,  lighining,  etc.,  25c. 
Negro  riinstrels. 

Just  the  book  needed.  Tells  the 
whole  thing,  . - - - 25c. 

Work  and  Play 

A gem  of  a book  for  children  in  school 
or  church  entertainments,  - 25c. 

Pranks  and  Pastimes. 

All  sorts  of  games,  puzzles,  shadow 
scenes,  etc.,  for  evening  parties,  25c. 
Social  Card  Games. 

An  excellent  manual  of  all  common 


the  Pay  Streak,  25c,  each.  All 
others,  16c.  each.  Postpaid. 

Large  Catalogue  Free, 


games,  also  tricks  ana  diversions,,  35c. 
Debater’s  Handbook  (cloth),  - 50c. 

Good  .Manners,  - - - - 25c. 

Everybody’s  Letter- Writer,  - 25c. 


\ 


I 


T.  S.  DENISON,  Publisher,  163  Randolph  St.,  Chicago, 


